G ARDEN I N G
Ready to do those winter projects? by Trena Cullins
The excitement of upcoming holiday festivities can make us ignore all else but setting aside time for catching up with a few important outdoor projects is a good idea. Doing so makes sure last spring and summer’s problems don’t plaque us again. Fungal issues on trees benefit from sanitation—rake up all infected leaves and dispose of them in the trash. Fungi can remain on leaves until conditions are favorable again for the spores to develop. Spores can spread by rain and wind, so applying a horticultural oil spray on trees can interfere with the pathogen and suffocate it. It’s also the perfect time to spray existing fruit trees to suffocate fungus and overwintering insects. Fungal problems in lawns can be addressed now as well. St. Augustine lawns have suffered quite a bit with brown spot this past growing season due to all the blessed rains. Rake all dead grass and discard. Then apply a thin layer of peat moss to the affected site. After about two weeks, apply another layer. Peat moss has a natural acidity that helps break
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down fungal spores. Prior to the spring warm up apply a small amount of compost to the peat area. This should help your lawn recover quickly during the growing season. Hard pruning should be done in the coldest months when trees and perennials are dormant. Plus, it’s a great way to burn off those holiday calories. Merry Christmas and let’s all have a happy New Year! Texas Master Certified Nursery Professional Trena Cullins (#4985) has been with The Plant Haus 2 for twenty years. Trena and her experienced staff have the knowledge to serve your gardening needs. 604 Jefferson, Kerrville. 830-792-4444.
The
Plant Haus 2
